U.S. patent application number 11/725228 was filed with the patent office on 2007-10-25 for method and apparatus for session negotiation in a mobile communication system and system thereof.
This patent application is currently assigned to SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Beom-Sik Bae, Jung-soo Jung, Dae-Gyun Kim, Prasad TSV Vadlapudi.
Application Number | 20070249328 11/725228 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38509704 |
Filed Date | 2007-10-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070249328 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jung; Jung-soo ; et
al. |
October 25, 2007 |
Method and apparatus for session negotiation in a mobile
communication system and system thereof
Abstract
Provided is a method and apparatus in a mobile communication
system, which can achieve efficient session negotiation when an
Access Terminal (AT) and an Access Network Transceiver System
(ANTS) of the mobile communication system have different parameters
for a session setup therebetween. The method includes selecting a
configuration attribute from among configuration attributes for
session negotiation, determining if the AT and the session
controller have assured to use an enhanced configuration request
message for the selected configuration attribute, and if so, the AT
transmits an enhanced configuration request message including an
identifier of the selected configuration attribute without a list
of attribute values that the AT wants to use for the selected
configuration attribute to the session controller.
Inventors: |
Jung; Jung-soo;
(Seongnam-si, KR) ; Kim; Dae-Gyun; (Seongnam-si,
KR) ; Bae; Beom-Sik; (Suwon-si, KR) ; TSV
Vadlapudi; Prasad; (New Tippassandra, IN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THE FARRELL LAW FIRM, P.C.
333 EARLE OVINGTON BOULEVARD
SUITE 701
UNIONDALE
NY
11553
US
|
Assignee: |
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO.,
LTD.
Suwon-si
KR
|
Family ID: |
38509704 |
Appl. No.: |
11/725228 |
Filed: |
March 16, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
455/414.1 ;
370/329 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 28/16 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
455/414.1 ;
370/329 |
International
Class: |
H04Q 7/24 20060101
H04Q007/24 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 16, 2006 |
KR |
24557/2006 |
Claims
1. A method for session negotiation by an Access Terminal (AT) in a
mobile communication system, the method comprising the steps of:
selecting a configuration attribute for which negotiation has not
been completed, from among a plurality of configuration attributes
for session negotiation between the AT and a session controller
during the session negotiation in an AT-initiated state;
determining whether an enhanced configuration request message is
required for the selected configuration attribute; and transmitting
by the AT an enhanced configuration request message when the
enhanced configuration request message is required for the selected
configuration attribute, said enhanced configuration request
message including an IDentifier (ID) of the selected configuration
attribute without a list of attribute values that the AT wants to
use for the selected configuration attribute.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: receiving
from a session controller an enhanced configuration response
message including an attribute value that the session controller
wants to use for the selected configuration attribute, after
transmitting the enhanced configuration request message; and
storing the attribute value included in the enhanced configuration
response message.
3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the enhanced
configuration response message further comprises: a message ID for
identifying the enhanced configuration response message; a
transaction ID for discriminating the enhanced configuration
response message from other enhanced configuration response
messages; and an attribute record including the attribute ID and
the attribute value that the session controller wants to use for
the selected configuration attribute.
4. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising receiving
from a session controller a notification of configuration
attributes, for which the AT and the session controller have
assured their use of the enhanced configuration request
message.
5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the configuration
attributes, for which the AT and a session controller have assured
their use of the enhanced configuration request message, are
defined in a standard for the mobile communication system before
the session negotiation.
6. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising
transmitting, when the AT and a session controller have not assured
their use of the enhanced configuration request message for the
selected configuration attribute, transmitting a configuration
request message including a list of attribute values that the AT
wants to use for the selected configuration attribute to the
session controller.
7. The method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising: receiving,
from the session controller, a configuration response message
including an attribute value that the session controller wants to
use for the selected configuration attribute from among attribute
values in the list included in the configuration request message,
after transmitting the configuration request message; and
performing session negotiation with the session controller by using
a attribute value included in the received configuration response
message.
8. A method for session negotiation by a session controller in a
mobile communication system, the method comprising the steps of:
receiving a message from an Access Terminal (AT) during a session
configuration process between the AT and the session controller in
an AT-initiated state AT; and inserting, when the received message
is an enhanced configuration request message, which includes an
attribute IDentifier (ID) without a list of attribute values that
the AT wants to use, the attribute ID included in the enhanced
configuration request message and an attribute value that the
session controller wants to use into an enhance configuration
response message corresponding to the enhanced configuration
request message, and then transmitting the enhance configuration
response message to the AT.
9. The method as claimed in claim 8, further comprising, when the
received message is a configuration request message including a
list of attribute values that the AT wants to use, selecting and
inserting an attribute value that the session controller wants to
use in the list into an configuration response message
corresponding to the configuration request message, and then
transmitting a configuration response message to the AT.
10. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the enhanced
configuration response message comprises: a message IDentifier (ID)
for identifying the enhanced configuration response message; a
transaction ID for discriminating the enhanced configuration
response message from other enhanced configuration response
messages; and an attribute record including the attribute ID and
the attribute value that the session controller wants to use for
the selected configuration attribute.
11. A method for session negotiation in a mobile communication
system, the method comprising the steps of: selecting a
configuration attribute by an Access Terminal (AT) for session
negotiation between the AT and a session controller during the
session negotiation in an AT-initiated state; transmitting, when
the AT and the session controller have assured their use of an
enhanced configuration request message for the selected
configuration attribute, an enhanced configuration request message
including an IDentifier (ID) of the selected configuration
attribute without a list of attribute values that the AT wants to
use for the selected configuration attribute to the session
controller by the AT; when the session controller has received the
enhanced configuration request message, inserting the attribute ID
included in the enhanced configuration request message and an
attribute value that the session controller wants to use into an
enhanced configuration response message corresponding to the
enhanced configuration request message, and then transmitting by
the session controller the enhanced configuration response message
to the AT; and receiving the enhanced response message and
performing by the AT session negotiation with the attribute value
included in the enhanced configuration response message.
12. The method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising
transmitting by the AT, when the AT and the session controller have
not assured their use of the enhanced configuration request message
for the configuration attribute selected by the AT, a configuration
request message including a list of attribute values that the AT
wants to use for the selected configuration attribute to the
session controller.
13. The method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising, when the
message received from the AT is the configuration request message
including a list of attribute values that the AT wants to use,
selecting and inserting an attribute value that the session
controller wants to use in the list into a configuration response
message corresponding to the configuration request message, and
then transmitting the configuration response message to the AT by
the session controller.
14. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the enhanced
configuration response message comprises: a message IDentifier (ID)
for identifying the enhanced configuration response message; a
transaction ID for discriminating the enhanced configuration
response message from other enhanced configuration response
messages; and an attribute record value including the attribute ID
and the attribute value that the session controller wants to use
for the selected configuration attribute.
15. A system for performing session negotiation in a mobile
communication system, the system comprising: an Access Terminal
(AT) for selecting a configuration attribute describing parameters
to be used for each protocol for session negotiation between the AT
and a session controller during the session negotiation in an
AT-initiated state, and transmitting an enhanced configuration
request message including an IDentifier (ID) of the selected
configuration attribute without a list of attribute values that the
AT wants to use for the selected configuration attribute to an
Access Network when the AT and a session controller have assured
their use of an enhanced configuration request message for the
selected configuration attribute; and the session controller for
receiving the enhanced configuration request message from the AT
through the Access Network, inserting the attribute ID included in
the enhanced configuration request message and an attribute value
that the session controller wants to use into an enhance
configuration response message corresponding to the enhanced
configuration request message, and then transmitting by the session
controller the enhance configuration response message to the
AT.
16. The system as claimed in claim 15, wherein, when the AT and the
session controller have not assured their use of an enhanced
configuration request message for the configuration attribute
selected by the AT, the AT transmits to the session controller a
configuration request message including a list of attribute values
that the AT wants to use for the selected configuration
attribute.
17. The system as claimed in claim 16, wherein, when the message
received from the AT is the configuration request message including
the list of attribute values that the AT wants to use, the session
controller selects and inserts the attribute value that the session
controller wants to use in the list into an configuration response
message corresponding to the configuration request message, and
then transmits the configuration response message to the AT.
18. The system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the enhanced
configuration response message further comprises: a message
Identifier (ID) for identifying the enhanced configuration response
message; a transaction ID for discriminating the enhanced
configuration response message from other enhanced configuration
response messages; and an attribute record value including the
attribute ID and the attribute value that the session controller
wants to use for the selected configuration attribute.
19. An apparatus for performing session negotiation to communicate
with an Access Terminal (AT) in a mobile communication system, the
apparatus comprising: a transceiver unit for performing wireless
communication with the AT; and a session controller for, when an
enhanced configuration request message is received, which includes
an IDentifier (ID) of a configuration attribute without a list of
attribute values that the AT wants to use, inserting an attribute
ID included in the enhanced configuration request message and an
attribute value that the session controller wants to use into an
enhance configuration response message corresponding to the
enhanced configuration request message, transmitting the enhance
configuration response message to the AT, and storing attribute
values for the session configuration between the AT and the session
controller.
20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein, when an
configuration request message including a list of attribute values
that the AT wants to use has been received through the transceiver
unit, the session controller selects and inserts the attribute
value that the session controller wants to use in the list into an
configuration response message corresponding to the configuration
request message, and then transmits the configuration response
message to the AT.
21. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the enhanced
configuration response message further comprises: a message
IDentifier (ID) for identifying the enhanced configuration response
message; a transaction ID for discriminating the enhanced
configuration response message from other enhanced configuration
response messages; and an attribute record value including the
attribute ID and the attribute value that the session controller
wants to use for the selected configuration attribute.
22. An Access Terminal (AT) apparatus for performing session
negotiation in a mobile communication system, the apparatus
comprising: a transceiver unit for performing wireless
communication with an Access Network Transceiver System (ANTS); a
controller for selecting a configuration attribute from among
configuration attributes for session negotiation between an AT and
a session controller during the session negotiation in an
AT-initiated state and for determining whether an enhanced
configuration request message is required for the selected
configuration attribute, transmitting the enhanced configuration
request message including an IDentifier (ID) of the selected
configuration attribute without a list of attribute values that the
AT wants to use for the selected configuration attribute through
the transceiver unit when the enhanced configuration request
message is required for the selected configuration attribute, and,
when an enhanced configuration response message including the ID
included in the enhanced configuration request message and
attribute values that the session controller wants to use for the
selected configuration attribute has been received through the
transceiver unit, storing a attribute value included in the
enhanced configuration response message; and a memory for storing
information on the negotiated session configuration, the ID of the
selected configuration attribute, and the attribute value included
in the enhanced configuration response message.
23. The apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein the controller
transmits a configuration request message including a list of
attribute values that the AT wants to use for a configuration
attribute, when the enhanced configuration request message is not
required for the selected configuration attribute, through the
transceiver unit, and receives a configuration response message
including the attribute values that the session controller wants to
use from among attributes in the list in response to the
configuration request message.
24. The apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein the controller
receives a notification of configuration attributes, for which the
AT and the session controller have assured their use of an enhanced
configuration request message, from the session controller.
Description
PRIORITY
[0001] This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn.119(a) of an application entitled "Method And Apparatus For
Session Negotiation In A Mobile Communication System, And Mobile
Communication System For The Same" filed in the Korean Industrial
Property Office on Mar. 16, 2006 and assigned Serial No.
2006-24557, the contents of which are incorporated herein by
reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates generally to a method and an
apparatus for session negotiation in a mobile communication system,
and more particularly to a method and apparatus in a mobile
communication system, which can achieve efficient session
negotiation when an Access Terminal (AT) and an Access 20 Network
Transceiver System (ANTS) of the mobile communication system have
different parameters for a session setup therebetween.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Wireless communication systems have generally been developed
to handle situations in which it is impossible to connect a fixed
wire network to an AT. Representative examples of such wireless
communication systems include a mobile communication system, a
wireless Local Area Network (LAN), a Wireless broadband (Wibro)
system and a mobile Ad Hoc system.
[0006] In contrast to ordinary wireless communication, mobile
communication is based on user mobility. The goal of a mobile
communication system is to enable exchange of information media
through a terminal, such as a mobile phone and a wireless pager,
regardless of time, location and parties involved.
[0007] A cellular mobile communication system has a service area
divided into multiple cells, each of which has one wireless ANTS
(cellular ANTS) allocated a different frequency from that of a
neighbor cell ANTS, to enable frequency reuse. A service area
controlled by one wireless ANTS herein is called a "cell," and a
system including cells as unit service areas is called a cellular
system.
[0008] Analog cellular systems, such as Advanced Mobile Phone
System (AMPS) and Total Access Communication Services (TACS),
appeared first and are thus called the first (1.sup.st) generation
mobile communication systems. The rapid increase of mobile
communication service subscribers required service beyond the
capability of the first generation mobile communication systems,
and the technological development caused increase in the demand for
various services beyond the conventional voice service. Such
requirements brought the second generation (2G) digital mobile
communication system to fruition. In contrast to the analog system,
the 2G mobile communication systems digitalize an analog voice
signal, and encode and modulate/demodulate the signal. The 2G
system uses a frequency of 800 MHz, and Time Division Multiple
Access (TDMA) and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) multiple
access schemes. The 2G system provides a voice service and a low
speed data service, and includes the IS-95 (CDMA scheme) and IS-54
(TDMA scheme) of the United States and the Global System for Mobile
(GSM) communication scheme of Europe. Further, the Personal
Communication Services (PCS) systems are defined as the 2.5.sup.th
generation mobile communication systems and use a frequency of
1.8.about.2 GHz band. The 2G mobile communication systems as
described have been constructed to increase the efficiency of the
mobile communication systems while providing a voice service to
users. However, the advent of the Internet and the users'
requirement for a higher speed data service caused to be generated
a new wireless platform, which includes the Third generation (3G)
mobile communication system, such as International Mobile
Telecommunication-2000 (IMT-2000). The IMT-2000 systems are divided
into synchronous and asynchronous systems. Representative
asynchronous systems include Universal Mobile Telecommunication
Systems (UMTS) and Wideband CDMA (WCDMA) systems of the 3G
Partnership Project (3GPP), and representative synchronous systems
include CDMA 2000 1x, CDMA 2000 1x Evolution Data Only (EV-DO) and
CDMA 2000 1x Evolution Data and Voice (EV-DV) of the 3G Partnership
Project 2 (3GPP2).
[0009] CDMA 2000 1x uses an IS-95C network evolved from the
existing IS-95A and IS-95B network, to provide a data service at a
downlink data rate of 144 kbps, which is faster than the 14.4
kbps/56 kbps data rate of the IS-95A/IS-95B network. Further, the
CDMA 2000 1x EV-DO has been arranged by one-step evolving the CDMA
2000 1x to support a downlink data rate of 2.4 Mbps, and the CDMA
2000 1x EV-DV has been arranged to overcome the problems of the
CDMA 2000 1x EV-DO and simultaneously support both voice and data
service.
[0010] The CDMA 2000 1x EV-DO system is a representative mobile
communication system having a channel structure for high speed data
transmission, which has been proposed by the 3GPP2 to improve the
data communication of the IS-2000 system.
[0011] In the CDMA 2000 1x EV-DO system, data communication can be
classified into downlink and uplink communication. As used herein,
the downlink refers to a direction from an ANTS to an AT, and the
uplink refers to a direction from an AT to an ANTS. Hereinafter, a
structure of a downlink channel of the CDMA 2000 1x EV-DO system
will be discussed. The downlink channel includes a pilot channel, a
downlink Medium Access Control (MAC) channel, a downlink traffic
channel and a downlink control channel, which may be transmitted
after being time-division-multiplexed. As used herein, a bundle of
signals transmitted after being time-division-multiplexed is
referred to as a "burst."
[0012] From among the channels described above, user data packets
are transmitted in the downlink traffic channel, and control
messages and user data packets are transmitted in the downlink
control channel. Further, the downlink AC channel is used for
control of uplink data rate, transfer of power control information
or appointment of downlink data transmission channel.
[0013] In contrast to the downlink channel, the uplink channel used
in the CDMA 2000 1x EV-DO system uses different identifiers
according to ATs. Therefore, the uplink channels described below
are transmitted to an ANTS with different identifiers for the ATs.
The uplink channels include a pilot channel, an uplink traffic
channel, an access channel, a Data Rate Control (DRC) channel and a
Reverse Rate Indicator (RRI) channel.
[0014] Hereinafter, functions of the uplink channels will be
briefly discussed. Similarly to the downlink traffic channel, an
uplink user data packet is transmitted in the uplink traffic
channel. Further, the DRC channel is used in order to indicate a
downlink data rate that can be supported by the AT, and the RRI
channel is used in order to indicate a data rate of a data channel
transmitted in an uplink. Further, the access channel is used when
the AT transmits a message or traffic to the ANTS before the
connection of the traffic channel.
[0015] FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional CDMA 2000 1x EV-DO mobile
communication system.
[0016] In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 denotes ATs 100a, 100b and
100c, reference numeral 110 denotes ANTSs 110a and 110b and
reference numeral 120 denotes Access Network Controllers (ANCs)
120a and 120b. A first ANTS 110a communicates with a plurality of
ATs 110a and 110b, a first ANTS 110a is connected to a first ANC
120a, and a second ANTS 110b is connected to a second ANC 120b.
Further, ANCs 120a and 120b may be connected to two or more ANTSs.
For convenience of description, FIG. 1 illustrates one ANTS
connected to one ANC. In this manner, the ANCs 120a and 120b are
connected to a Packet Data Service Node (PDSN) 130, which is
connected to the Internet network 140.
[0017] In a mobile communication system illustrated in FIG. 1, each
of the ANTSs 110a and 110b transmits packet data only to an AT
having the optimal packet data rate from among ATs located within
its own area, which will be described in more detail hereinafter.
In the following description, the AT is designated by reference
numeral 100, and the ANTS is designated by reference numeral
110.
[0018] In the case of downlink data rate control, the AT 100
measures a reception intensity of a pilot channel transmitted by
the ANTS 110, and determines the downlink data rate at which the
ATs 100 will receive downlink data based on the measured reception
intensity of the pilot channel. Thereafter, the AT 100 transmits
DRC information corresponding to the determined downlink data rate
to the ANTS 110 through a data rate control channel. Then, the ANTS
110 receives the DRC information from all ATs located within its
area and are expected to perform communication within the area. The
DRC information refers to a value corresponding to a downlink
transmissible data rate, which is determined based on a channel
state measured by an AT in a good channel state. The relation
between the downlink channel state and the DRC information is
determined to have a fixed value during the manufacture of the AT,
while it may change according to the actual application.
[0019] In contrast to the IS-2000 system, the CDMA 2000 1x EV-DO
system illustrated in FIG. 1 does not use a physical identifier
such as an Electronic Serial Number (ESN) of the AT 100 to identify
the AT 100. Instead, the CDMA 2000 1x EV-DO system identifies the
AT 100 by providing a connection identifier named "Unicast Access
Terminal Identifier (UATI) to each AT 100. The UATI is
independently defined for each subnet, that is, for each area that
is controlled by a Radio Network Controller (RNC) or a Packet
Control Function (PCF) unit, which are not shown in FIG. 1. The
UATI includes a subnet identifier part having a size of 8 bits and
an AT identifier part having a size of 24 bits. Therefore, when the
AT 100 of the CDMA 2000 1x EV-DO system moves from a source subnet
to a target subnet, a PCF unit or RNC allocates a new UATI
including a new subnet identifier to the AT 100. The ANTS 110 and
the ANC 120 are referred to as an Access Network (AN) 150.
[0020] The AT 100 of the CDMA 2000 1x EV-DO system must be
allocated a UATI, an identifier of the AT 100, in order to exchange
data with the system. After being allocated the UATI, the AT 100.
negotiates with the AN 150 about parameters according to protocols
of each layer necessary for exchange of data between the AT 100 and
the AN 150, which include a method of exchanging data through a
physical channel between the AT 100 and the AN 150, a method of
determining and transmitting a transport type and format by the MAC
layer, a method of maintaining a setup call or
transmitting/receiving data in an idle state in a connection layer
and a method of separating, rearranging and re-transmitting upper
layer data, such as Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol
(TCP/IP) packets, in an application layer.
[0021] While negotiating the system parameters, the AT and the AN
exchange pre-defined messages, and set a dedicated channel for the
message exchange. The dedicated channel is established before the
exchange of the parameters necessary for the transmission.
Therefore, the AT and the AN perform the parameter negotiation
after setting a dedicated traffic channel by using initially set
parameters.
[0022] In the CDMA 2000 1x EV-DO system, a data structure with a
format named "configuration attribute" is used for the parameters
according to the protocols to be used by the AT and the AN. The
configuration attribute includes an attribute Identifier (ID) and
an attribute value. When the AN 150 and the AT 100 negotiate the
parameters, they propose and negotiate parameter values for use by
using corresponding configuration attributes, and store a
negotiation result as a corresponding configuration attribute.
[0023] A set of the negotiated configuration attributes as
described above is defined as a "session configuration," and a
process of negotiating the session configuration is called a
"session configuration process." The negotiated session
configuration is maintained and updated during one session, that
is, during a time interval in which data communication between the
AT 100 and the AN 150 is possible.
[0024] In the CDMA 2000 1x EV-DO system, before starting the
session configuration, the AN 150 and the AT 100 generate a
configuration instance dedicated for session configuration, which
is responsible for session configuration of each of the protocol
and applications. The configuration instance of the generated
specific protocol (or application) performs negotiation of
configuration attributes defined for the protocol. After generating
the configuration instance for each of the protocol and
applications, the AN 150 and the AT 100 proceed with a session
configuration process.
[0025] The session configuration process between the AT 100 and the
AN 150 can be divided into an Access Terminal initiated state
(AT-initiated state) in which the AT 100 requests necessary
configuration attributes, and an Access Network initiated state
(AN-initiated state) in which the AN 150 proposes configuration
attributes to be used. The AT 100 and the AN 150 transmit a
configuration request message including a list of parameters to be
used for one configuration attribute.
[0026] The party having received the configuration request message
continuously selects a desired parameter from the parameter list,
and finally configures all system parameters with parameter values
supported by the AT 100 and the AN 150. Through this process, the
AT 100 and the AN 150 perform the parameter negotiation for all the
protocols to be used, and the party that requested the parameter
configuration transfers a configuration complete message to the
receiving party, thereby completing the session configuration
process. Further, after completing the session configuration, the
AT 100 and the AN 150 release the traffic channel configured with
the initially set parameters, and apply newly negotiated
parameters.
[0027] FIG. 2 illustrates a session configuration process between
the AT 100 and the AN 150 in a conventional CDMA 2000 1x EV-DO
system.
[0028] In step 200, the AT 100 and the AN 150 establish a dedicated
channel by using configuration attributes of a currently used
session or initial parameters in order to configure a session. In
step 202, the AT 100 and the AN 150 proceed with a session
negotiation in an AT-initiated state, and the AT 100 notifies
completion of the AT-initiated state by transmitting a
configuration complete message when the configuration attribute
request of the AT 100 is satisfied.
[0029] In step 204, the AT 100 and the AN 150 proceed with the
session negotiation in an AN-initiated state. When the
configuration attribute request of the AT 100 is satisfied, the AN
150 notifies completion of the session negotiation by transmitting
a configuration complete message including session information to
be newly applied. In step 206, the AT 100 and the AN 150 terminate
the connection of the dedicated channel in order to apply a new
session. Then, in step 208, the AT 100 and the AN 150 apply the
session initiated by the AN 150, thereby completing the session
configuration process.
[0030] FIG. 3 illustrates a session configuration process between
the AT 100 and the AN 150 in a conventional CDMA 2000 1x EV-DO
system.
[0031] In step 300, the AT 100 is allocated a new UATI through
processes including UATI request, UATI allocation and UATI
completion between the AT 100 and the AN 150. In step 302, the AT
100 and the AN 150 opens a session by using initial attribute
values. Then, in step 304, the AT 100 and the AN 150 configure a
traffic channel by using the initial parameter values of step 302.
In step 306, the AT 100 and the AN 150 start the session
negotiation. In step 308, the AN 150 starts a session configuration
process of an AT-initiated state by transmitting a configuration
start message to the AT 100 by using the traffic channel configured
in step 304. In step 310, the AT 100 exchanges a configuration
request message and a configuration response message with the AN
150 several times and then sets a desired value for a specific
configuration attribute. After completing configuration of a
desired configuration attribute value, the AT 100 notifies
completion of the AT initiated state and start of an AN-initiated
state by transmitting a configuration complete message to the AN
150 in step 312.
[0032] In step 314, the AN 150 provides encryption key values to
the AT 100. In step 316, the AN 150 exchanges a configuration
request message and a configuration response message with the AT
100, thereby configuring a desired value for a specific
configuration attribute. After configuring a desired value for a
specific configuration attribute, the AN 150 transmits, in step
318, a configuration complete message to the AT 100, thereby
completing the entire session configuration process and instructing
which session will be used. Then, in step 320, the session is
reconfigured.
[0033] According to the prior art as described above with reference
to FIGS. 2 and 3, the AT must notify the AN of all supportable
values for each configuration attribute in an AT-initiated state,
and the AN must select a desired value to be used from among the
values that can be supported by the AT. However, the information of
the supportable values for a particular configuration attribute,
which can be supported by the AT, may be too large, so that it may
be impossible for the AT to properly notify the AN of all of the
information.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0034] Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve
the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art, and the
present invention provides a method, an apparatus, and a system
thereof, by which an AN can appoint a value that is not requested
by an AT in an AT-initiated state in a session negotiation process
between the AT and the AN.
[0035] The present invention provides a method, an apparatus, and a
system thereof, for more efficient session negotiation, even when
the AT and the session controller want to use different
configuration attribute values in a mobile communication system
storing and managing session configuration information.
[0036] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided
a method for session negotiation by an AT in a mobile communication
system, the method including selecting a configuration attribute
for which negotiation has not been completed, from among
configuration attributes for session negotiation between the AT and
a session controller during the session negotiation in an
AT-initiated state, determining whether the AT and the session
controller have assured their use of an enhanced configuration
request message for the selected configuration attribute, and when
the AT and the session controller have assured their use of an
enhanced configuration request message for the selected
configuration attribute, transmitting by the AT an enhanced
configuration request message including an identifier of the
selected configuration attribute without a list of attribute values
that the AT wants to use for the selected configuration attribute,
to the session controller.
[0037] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided
a method for session negotiation by a session controller in a
mobile communication system, the method including determining
whether the AN has received a message from an AT during a session
configuration process between the AT and the session controller in
an AT-initiated state of the AT, and when a received message is an
enhanced configuration request message, which includes an
identifier of a list of attribute values that the AT wants to use,
inserting an attribute identifier included in the enhanced
configuration request message and an attribute value that the
session controller wants to use into an enhanced configuration
response message corresponding to the enhanced configuration
request message, and then transmitting the enhanced configuration
response message to the AT.
[0038] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided
a method for session negotiation in a mobile communication system,
the method including selecting a configuration attribute by an AT
for session negotiation between the AT and a session controller
during the session negotiation in an AT-initiated state, when the
AT and the session controller have assured their use of an enhanced
configuration request message for the selected configuration
attribute, transmitting by the AT an enhanced configuration request
message including an identifier of the selected configuration
attribute without a list of attribute values that the AT wants to
use for the selected configuration attribute to the session
controller, when the session controller has received the enhanced
configuration request message, inserting an attribute identifier
included in the enhanced configuration request message and an
attribute value that the session controller ants to use into an
enhanced configuration response message corresponding to the
enhanced configuration request message, and then transmitting the
enhanced configuration response message to the AT by the session
controller, and receiving the enhanced response message and
performing by the AT session negotiation with the configuration
attribute value included in the enhanced configuration response
message.
[0039] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided
a system for performing session negotiation in a mobile
communication system, the system including an AT for selecting a
configuration attribute describing parameters to be used for each
protocol for session negotiation between the AT and a session
controller during the session negotiation in an AT-initiated state,
and transmitting an enhanced configuration request message
including an identifier of the selected configuration attribute
without a list of attribute values that the AT wants to use for the
selected configuration attribute to the session controller when the
AT and the session controller have promised to use an enhanced
configuration request message for the selected configuration
attribute, and the session controller for receiving the enhanced
configuration request message from the AT, inserting an attribute
identifier included in the enhanced configuration request message
and an attribute value that the session controller wants to use
into an enhanced configuration response message corresponding to
the enhanced configuration request message, and then transmitting
by the session controller the enhanced configuration response
message to the AT.
[0040] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided
an apparatus for performing session negotiation in order to perform
communication with an AT in a mobile communication system, the
apparatus including a transceiver unit for performing wireless
communication with the AT; and a session controller for inserting,
when an enhanced configuration request message is received, which
includes an identifier of a configuration attribute a list of
attribute values that the AT wants to use, an attribute identifier
included in the enhanced configuration request message and an
attribute value that the session controller wants to use into an
enhanced configuration response message corresponding to the
enhanced configuration request message, transmitting the enhanced
configuration response message to the AT, and storing attribute
values for the session configuration between the AT and the session
controller.
[0041] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided
an AT apparatus for performing session negotiation in a mobile
communication system, the apparatus including a transceiver unit
for performing wireless communication with an ANTS, a controller
for selecting a configuration attribute for which negotiation has
not been completed, from among configuration attributes for session
negotiation between an AT and a session controller during the
session negotiation in an AT-initiated state, transmitting an
enhanced configuration request message including an identifier of
the selected configuration attribute without a list of attribute
values that the AT wants to use for the selected configuration
attribute through the transceiver unit, and, when an enhanced
configuration response message including an identifier included in
the enhanced configuration request message and attribute values
that the session controller wants to use for the selected
configuration attribute has been received through the transceiver
unit, storing a configuration attribute value included in the
enhanced configuration response message, and a memory for storing
information on the negotiated session configuration, an identifier
of the selected configuration attribute, and the configuration
attribute value included in the enhanced configuration response
message.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0042] The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the
present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed
description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in
which:
[0043] FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional CDMA 2000 1x EV-DO mobile
communication system;
[0044] FIG. 2 illustrates a session configuration process between
an AT and an AN in a conventional CDMA 2000 1x EV-DO system;
[0045] FIG. 3 illustrates a session configuration process between
an AT and an AN in a conventional CDMA 2000 1x EV-DO system;
[0046] FIG. 4 illustrates an operation of a protocol configuration
instance by an AT in an AT-initiated state according to the present
invention;
[0047] FIG. 5 illustrates an operation of a protocol configuration
instance by an AN in an AT-initiated state according to the present
invention; and
[0048] FIG. 6 illustrates a construction of a mobile communication
system according to the present invention, for example, a CDMA 2000
1x EV-DO network.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0049] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention
will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In
the following description, a detailed description of known
functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted
for the sake of clarity and conciseness. Further, various specific
definitions found in the following description are provided only to
assist in the general understanding of the present invention, and
it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present
invention can be implemented without such definitions.
[0050] A process for session negotiation through various system
parameters necessary for communication between an AT and an AN can
generally be divided into an AT-initiated state in which the AT
requests the necessary parameter values to the AN, and an
AN-initiated state in which the AN discloses to the AT the
parameter values to be used. Hereinafter, an ANTS and an ANC are
referred to as an Access Network (AN).
[0051] According to the present invention, when it is impossible
for an AT to notify all supportable values for a specific
configuration attribute to an AN in an AT-initiated state of a
session negotiation process between the AT and the AN the AN can
appoint a value that is not requested by the AT.
[0052] In a mobile communication system according to an embodiment
of the present invention, an AT, in an AT-initiated state,
transmits a configuration request message including a list of
values that the AT wants to use for configuration attributes of all
protocols or applications under negotiation. However, in the case
of some configuration attributes, the list of the values to be used
may have such a large size that the AT cannot include all
supportable attribute values in the transmitted configuration
request message.
[0053] Therefore, according to an embodiment of the present
invention, in an AT-initiated state, the AT and the AN separately
define configuration attributes, for which it is difficult to
negotiate by using the conventional configuration request
message.
[0054] According to the present invention, in order to transmit a
configuration request message including the configuration
attributes, for which it is difficult to negotiate by using the
conventional configuration request message, in an AT-initiated
state, the AT does not insert the attribute values that the AT
wants to use, but inserts partial information of the configuration
attributes, for example, an attribute ID, into the configuration
request message, and then transmits the configuration request
message including only the partial information, which is defined as
an enhanced configuration request message, as used herein. Then,
the AT can wait for a response including a value that the AN
prefers from among corresponding configuration attributes requested
through the enhanced configuration request message.
[0055] According to the present invention, upon receiving a
configuration request message including the configuration
attributes, for which it is difficult to negotiate by using the
conventional configuration request message, from the AT in an
AT-initiated state, the AN can appoint a value that the AN wants to
use for the configuration attributes by transmitting an enhanced
configuration response message.
[0056] Table 1 below shows an example of an enhanced configuration
response message according to the present invention. For a
particular configuration attribute assured in advance between the
AT and the AN, the AN can transmit an enhanced configuration
response message having a structure as defined by Table 1. By using
the enhanced configuration response message, the AN can appoint an
attribute value to be used by the AT for a particular configuration
attribute in the AT-initiated state. TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Field
Length (bits) MessageID 8 TransactionID 8 Zero or more instances of
the following record AttributeRecord Attribute dependent
[0057] In Table 1, the MessageID field has a value of a message
identifier that implies an enhanced configuration response message,
and the TransactionID corresponds to an execution identifier for
discriminating one enhanced configuration response message from
other enhanced configuration response messages in order to avoid
confusion between the messages. The AttributeRecord field has a
structure including an attribute ID and an attribute value of a
configuration attribute that the AN wants to appoint by using the
enhanced configuration response message.
[0058] According to the present invention, after receiving the
enhanced configuration request message, the AT must use only the
attribute value appointed by the AN for the configuration attribute
included in the enhanced configuration request message. To this
end, the AT must either support all attribute values for which the
AT and AN assured their use of an enhanced configuration response
message or notify partial information of the supportable attribute
values to the AN in advance.
[0059] According to the present invention, only when the AT either
can support all attribute values for the configuration attributes
for which the AT and AN assured their use of an enhanced
configuration response message or know partial information of the
supportable attribute values in advance, can the AN transmit the
enhanced configuration response message.
[0060] The configuration attributes for which the AT and AN assured
their use of an enhanced configuration response message may be
either defined in a standard for a mobile communication system
before the session negotiation between the AN and the AT or
notified to the AT by the AN before the session negotiation.
[0061] Table 2 below shows an example of a configuration attribute
by which the AN can perform a session negotiation through the
AttributeRecord field within the enhanced configuration response
message of Table 1 according to the present invention. The AN
transmits the AttributeRecord field within enhanced configuration
response message as shown in Table 1 and the AttributeRecord field
including configuration attributes as shown in Table 2. From among
the fields of the StreamAppSubtypeMapping configuration attribute
shown in Table 2, the Length field indicates a length of an
attribute value list or an attribute value for the
StreamAppSubtypeMapping configuration attribute transmitted through
a configuration request message or a configuration response message
by an AT or an AN. The AttributeID field includes an identifier for
discriminating the StreamAppSubtypeMapping configuration attribute
from the other configuration attributes. The StreamID field and the
ApplicationSubtype field include an application identifier to be
used by the AT or AN and a stream identifier for discriminating
data of the corresponding application from data of other
applications, respectively. TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2
StreamAppSubtypeMapping configuration attribute Field Length (bits)
Default Length 8 N/A AttributeID 8 N/A Zero or more occurrences of
the following record: StreamID 8 0 ApplicationSubtype 16 0x0000
[0062] An AT can support more than 250 stream identifiers and more
than 7 applications, and can use any stream for one application.
However, the AT does not know the application-stream combination
selected by the AN. Therefore, in the configuration request message
the AT must consider and insert all of the more than 1700
supportable combinations that can be selected by the AN for the
StreamAppSubtypeMapping configuration. attribute. In order to
reduce such an overhead, the StreamAppSubtypeMapping configuration
attribute is used as a configuration attribute for negotiation
using an enhanced configuration response message.
[0063] Before transmitting a configuration request message for the
StreamAppSubtypeMapping configuration attribute, the AT transmits
information on all the applications supported by the AT to the AN
by using another configuration attribute.
[0064] Thereafter, the AT transmits to the AN a configuration
request message including only partial information of the
StreamAppSubtypeMapping configuration attribute, for example, only
an attribute ID. Upon receiving the configuration request message
including only the partial information, the AN may transmit an
enhanced configuration response message including a
StreamAppSubtypeMapping configuration attribute, which indicates an
application that the AN wants to use and a stream identifier of the
application by using type information of supportable applications
previously transmitted by the AT.
[0065] Table 3 below shows another example of a configuration
attribute using an enhanced configuration response message
according to the present invention.
[0066] From among the fields of the StreamConfiguration
configuration attribute shown in Table 3, the Length field
indicates a length of an attribute value list or an attribute value
for the StreamConfiguration configuration attribute transmitted
through a configuration request message or a configuration response
message by an AT or an AN. The AttributeID field includes an
identifier for discriminating the StreamConfiguration configuration
attribute from the other configuration attributes. The ValueID
field is an identifier for discriminating one attribute value set
from other attribute value sets in a list of attribute values of
Stream0Application, Stream1Application, Stream2Application and
Stream3Application, requested by the AT. The Stream0Application,
Stream1Application, Stream2Application and Stream3Application
include identifiers of applications to be used in relation to
stream 0, stream 1, stream 2 and stream 3, respectively.
TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 StreamConfiguration configuration attribute
Field Length (bits) Default Length 8 N/A AttributeID 8 N/A One or
more of the following record: ValueID 8 N/A Stream0Application 16
0x0000 Stream1Application 16 0xffff Stream2Application 16 0xffff
Stream3Application 16 0xffff
[0067] Before transmitting a configuration request message for the
StreamConfiguration configuration attribute, the AT transmits
information on all the applications supported by the AT to the AN
by using another configuration attribute. Thereafter, the AT
transmits to the AN an enhanced configuration request message
including only partial information of the StreamConfiguration
configuration attribute, for example, only an attribute ID. Upon
receiving the enhanced configuration request message including only
the partial information, the AN may transmit an enhanced
configuration response message including a StreamConfiguration
configuration attribute, which indicates an application that the AN
wants to use and a stream identifier of the application by using
type information of supportable applications previously transmitted
by the AT.
[0068] FIG. 4 illustrates an operation of a protocol configuration
instance by an AT in an AT-initiated state according to the present
invention. In step 400, the AT selects a configuration attribute,
for which the AT has not exchanged a configuration request message
and a configuration response message with the AN, from the
configuration attributes for which the AT wants to negotiate. In
step 402, the AT determines whether the configuration attribute
selected in step 400 is a configuration attribute for which the AT
and the AN assured their use of an enhanced configuration response
process, that is, if the selected configuration attribute is a
configuration attribute for which the AT and the AN assured their
use of an enhanced configuration request message and an enhanced
configuration response message. It is assumed that the AT and the
AN made a preliminarily assurance and know which configuration
response message is to be used by each configuration response
message. As a result of the determination in step 402, when the
selected configuration attribute is a configuration attribute for
which the AT and AN assured their use of an enhanced configuration
response message, the AT transmits an enhanced configuration
response message including only an attribute ID of the
configuration attribute without an attribute value in step 404.
[0069] In contrast, as a result of the determination in step 402,
when the selected configuration attribute is a configuration
attribute for which the AT and the AN have not assured to use an
enhanced configuration response message, the AT transmits a
configuration request message including a list of attribute values
which the AT wants for the configuration attribute in step 406.
Then, in step 408, the AT determines whether negotiation has been
performed for all the configuration attributes. When any more
configuration requests are necessary, the AT returns to step 400
and continues performing the configuration negotiation. In
contrast, when any more configuration requests are unnecessary, the
AT proceeds to step 410 in which the AT transmits a configuration
complete message and shifts into the AN-initiated state.
[0070] FIG. 5 illustrates an operation of a protocol configuration
instance by an AN in an AT-initiated state according to the present
invention.
[0071] In step 500, the AT receives a configuration request message
from the AT. In step 502, the AN determines whether the
configuration attribute included in the configuration request
message received in step 500 is a configuration attribute for which
the AT and AN assured their use of an enhanced configuration
response message. It is assumed that the AT and the AN made a
preliminary assurance and know about which configuration response
message is to be used by each configuration response message. As a
result of the determination in step 502, when the configuration
attribute is a configuration attribute for which the AT and AN
assured they would use an enhanced configuration response message,
the AN transmits an enhanced configuration response message
including an attribute value that the AN wants to use for the
corresponding configuration attribute in step 504. In contrast, as
a result of the determination in step 502, when the configuration
attribute is a configuration attribute for which the AT and AN have
not assured their use of an enhanced configuration response
message, the AN selects one attribute value that the AN wants to
use in the list of attribute values included in the configuration
request message, which the AT wants for the configuration
attribute, and then transmits a configuration response message
including the selected attribute value in step 506. Thereafter, in
step 508, the AN determines whether it has received a configuration
complete message from the AT. When the AN has not received a
configuration complete message from the AT, the AN returns to step
500 and continues performing the configuration negotiation. When
the AN has received a configuration complete message from the AT,
the AN shifts into the AN-initiated state.
[0072] FIG. 6 illustrates a construction of a mobile communication
system according to the present invention, for example, a CDMA 2000
1x EV-DO network.
[0073] The mobile communication system shown in FIG. 6 includes an
AT 612 of a user and an AN 620 for exchanging data with the AT 612
through a wireless network. The AN 620 includes an Access Network
Controller (ANC) and an Access Network Transceiver (ANT), which
constitute a Radio Access Network (RAN) of a CDMA 2000 1x EV-DO
network. A Session Control/Mobility Management (SC/MM) unit 624
negotiates with the AT 612 for session information to be used for
communication according to a session negotiation process disclosed
in the present invention, which will be referred to as a "session
controller."
[0074] The AN 620 includes a transceiver unit 616, a data queue 618
and a scheduler/controller 614. The transceiver unit 616 includes a
radio frequency unit for frequency down-converting or up-converting
in order to transmit user data or a message, a
modulator/demodulator for modulating received data or demodulating
data to be transmitted, and an encoder/decoder for encoding or
decoding the modulated/demodulated data. The data queue 618 stores
the received user data or the message. The scheduler/controller 614
selects and transmits data of a particular user and a particular
queue in consideration of the quantity of data of each queue,
channel states of ATs, service characteristics and fairness, for
example.
[0075] The AT 612 and the session controller (SC/MM) 624 are
equipped with a session negotiation algorithm in order to perform
the session negotiation according to the method described above
with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. Further, although the session
controller 624 may be provided in either the packet control
function unit or the AN 620, the present invention is based on an
assumption that the session controller 624 is included in the AN
620 and, a unit including the AN 620 and the session controller 624
is referred to as a session negotiation apparatus, for the sake of
convenience.
[0076] Further, the AT 612 includes an RF transceiver unit 600 for
communication with the AN 620 through a wireless channel, a
demodulator 602 for demodulating user data or a message received
through the RF transceiver unit 600, a decoder 604 for decoding the
demodulated data or message, a controller 606 for controlling the
general operation of the AT and negotiating with the session
controller 624 for session information to be used in communication,
a memory 607 for storing the negotiated session information or the
user data to be transmitted/received, an encoder 608 for encoding
the user data or generated message, and a modulator 610 for
modulating the encoded user data or message. Further, a unit
including the RF transceiver unit 600, the demodulator 602, the
decoder 604, the encoder 608 and the modulator 610 of the AT 612
may be called a "transceiver unit" for communication with the AN
620.
[0077] For session control and session negotiation with the SC/MM
624, the controller 606 of the AT 612 either generates session
negotiation-related information in a message format or extracts
session negotiation-related information from a received message.
Further, the controller 606 stores parameters related to the
session information and information corresponding to change in the
session information in the memory 607. Further, the controller 606
stores configuration attributes for which the AT and AN 620 assured
to use the enhanced configuration request message in the memory
607. Moreover, the controller 606 stores identifiers and a list of
configuration attributes for which the AI and AN 620 assured their
use of the enhanced configuration request message in the memory
607.
[0078] In order to transmit particular configuration attributes for
which the AT and AN 620 assured to use an enhanced configuration
request message while performing the session configuration in the
AT-initiated state, the controller 606 does not insert the
configuration attribute values that the AT wants to use, but
inserts partial information of the configuration attributes, for
example, an attribute ID, into the enhanced configuration request
message, and then transmits the enhanced configuration request
message including only the partial information to the session
controller 624. Further, upon receiving an enhanced configuration
response message of the present invention from the session
controller 624 received the enhanced configuration request message,
the controller 606 stores the session configuration attribute
values included in the enhanced configuration response message in
the memory 607 and performs session configuration with the AN 620
by using the configuration attribute values. At this time, after
storing the attribute values included in the enhanced configuration
response message in the memory 607, the controller 606 performs
session negotiation with the AN 620 for the next session by using
the attribute values.
[0079] The session controller 624 receives a configuration request
message including the configuration attributes, which the AT 612
wants to use for a configuration instance of a protocol or
application newly generated at the time of session configuration in
an AT-initiated state, and negotiates with the AT 612 for the
session.
[0080] When the SC/MM 624 receives a configuration request message
including particular configuration attributes from the AT 612 in
the AT-initiated state, the SC/MM 624 transmits an enhanced
configuration response message having a structure including an
attribute ID and an attribute value of the configuration attribute
to be used to the AT 612 as shown in Tables 2 and 3.
[0081] At this time, the AT 612 is required either to support all
attribute values for configuration attributes for which the AT and
AN 620 assured to use the enhanced configuration response message
as described above or to notify partial information of the
supportable values to the SC/MM 624 through the AN 620.
[0082] According to the present invention as described above, it is
possible to more efficiently perform session negotiation even when
the AT and the session controller want to use different
configuration attribute values in the session configuration
process.
[0083] While the invention has been shown and described with
reference to certain exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be
understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form
and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *